HEADSTONE WITH ALMOHADE INSCRIPTION FROM JEREZ CITY WALL
Islamic Period
HEADSTONE WITH ALMOHADE INSCRIPTION FROM JEREZ CITY WALL
Sandstone.
Length: 74 cm. Height: 50 cm. Thickness: 23 cm.
Hispano-Muslim. 12th – 13th century.
Origin
Puerta del Real. Jerez de la Frontera. Cádiz.
Description
Until 1821 -the date of demolition- it was situated on the upper part of the gateway arch leading to the medina in Jerez through the Puerta del Real, one of the city's four gates in the Islamic period. It consists of three lines of writing realised in geometric cufic. The characters and ornaments are smooth and markedly carved on the base. The text is religious - in line with official Almohad inscriptions. It consists of basmala (expression or saying with which Muslims begin all important acts), continues with the tasliya (prayer to the prophet) and finishes with the last part of verse 64 of surah 12 of the Koran. It is translated as: "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Gracious, (be) the blessing of God upon Mohammed. God is the best Guardian. He is the most Merciful of Merciful”.
Bibliography
- Fernández-Puertas, A.(1978-79): “Dos lápidas almohades. Maqabriya de Játiva y lápida de la cerca de Jerez de la Frontera”. Miscelánea de Estudios Árabes y Hebraicos. XXVII-XXVIII.I. pp. 228-232.
